Friction let-off for looms



F. J. CHEGWIDDEN ET AL FRICTION LET-OFF FOR LOOMS Filed April 11, 1927 Feb. 5, 1929.

- warp beams are provided with drums and a Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,701,063 PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS JOHN CHEGWIDDE'N, OF MOORESTOWN, AND WILLIAM CHEGWIDDEN, OF

. MAPLE SHADE, NEW JERSEY.

FRICTION LET-OFF FOR LOOMS.

Application filed April 11, 1927. Serial No. 182,908.

This invention relates to friction let-offs for looms, particularly looms in which the funicular member for the attachment of tension weights in the conventional manner.

The object of this invention is to provide a. simple, efficient, and inexpensive friction device that may be attached to a funicular member as a rope, belt or chain customarily employed as a friction let-off for the warp beam, and which may be attached to such rope, belt or chain, regardless of their worn condition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a friction device that is not affected by moisture; that can readily be adjusted to suit the requirements of the particular quality of the cloth to be woven, by removal or addition of the friction element, and that incidentally obviates the necessity for using chalk, talcum powder, graphite or oil upon the drums, thereby promoting cleanliness in the weave room, and increased efficiency in the operation of the loom.

The problem of providing an efficient. let-off for the warp beam has been a difficult one, and as the tension should be a constant one, many types of friction devices have been tried without obtaining the desired result. Under the varying moisture conditions in the weave room, frequent adjustment must be made during the run as the beam is emptied.

-When rope, belting, or chain are used,

they soon become smooth and polished, and

fail to function properly, thereby causing damaged cloth due to either open picks, or beat marks in the cloth. According to the varying conditions in the weave room, chalk or other powder is usually employed to increase friction and absorb moisture when rope or belting is used, and with chain, oil or graphite are used as a lubricant to permit the proper adjustment of the warp tension.

By the application of this invention, the usual type of equipment may be used without change, it being merely necessary to attach the device to the old rope, belt or chain, and proceed to operate the loom in the usual manner. Adjustments are made to suit the particular quality of cloth to be woven by increasing, or decreasing the number of removable cork friction members, after which it is merely necessary to remove weight from the counter and leveras the warp decreases in diameter.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth:

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1, is an end elevation of a loom showing'a warp beam with our invention applied thereto; Fig. 2, a side elevation ofthe warp beam Fig. 3, a sectional view of the device, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line a a Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a side view of the device attached to rope; Fig. 5, a side view of the device attached to belting; and Fig. 6, a plan view of the device.

In the practice of our invention, as herein exemplified, the frame, 1, of the loom, is provided with bearings in the upright standards, 2, in which is mounted a shaft, 3. The shaft, 3, carries the warp beam, 4, upon which are rolled the war threads, 5. Between the warp beam an the standards at each end of the shaft there are rigidly mounted drums of the usual form having flanges, 7 and 8, extending beyond the face of the drum.

Equi-spaced sockets, 11, each having a cork friction member, 15, removably disposed therein, are attached to a belt, 10, by means of screws, 17, which pass through a plate, 18, and through the belt into threaded openings in the sockets, 11. The belt is then passed twice around the drum and is secured at one end to a counter weight, 12, the other end being secured to a lever, 16, in the conventional manner.

The warp tension may be increased or decreased, by adding or removing weights from the counter, 12, and the lever, 16, or, by increasing or decreasing the number of cork friction members in the sockets, according to the quality of the material to be woven.

Figs. 3 and 4, illustrate how the device may be attached to a rope, 20, by means of a clamp strap, '19, secured in position by screws, 17. The rope is then adjusted to the drum in the usual manner with the cork friction members bearing on the face of the drum. The device may also be attached. to conveyor or other chain in the same manner as is practiced when belts are used.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A friction let-oif for looms, comprising the combination with a friction drum, of a funicular member wound thereon, a plurality of spaced socket members rigidly secured to said funicular member, said socket members being formed with screw threaded sockets disposed adjacent the drum surface, cork inserts threaded into said sockets and means for imparting tension at opposite ends of said funicular member.

2. A friction let-oil for looms, comprising the combination with a friction drum, of a funicular member Wound thereover, a plurality of two-part clamps secured on said funicular member in spaced relation, each of said clamps having one part'thereof disposed adjacent the drum surface and formed with a screw threaded socket extending therethrough, a cork insert detachably threaded into said sockets, and means for imparting tension to the opposite ends of said funicular member.

3. A friction element for loom let-off mechanisms comprising a two-part clamp adapted to be rigidly secured to a funicular member, one part of said clamp being formed with an internally threaded socket extending entirely .therethrough, .and a. cork .insert therethrough, and a cork insert removably threaded therein for direct engagement at its inner end against an associated funicular member clamped between said strap and socket member.

FRANCIS JOHN CHEGWIDDEN. WILLIAM OHEGWIDDEN. I a 

